Registration opens Dec. 1 for winter 2007 writing classes offered by Field’s End, the regional writers community affiliated with the Bainbridge Library.

Classes for writers of varying skill levels and interests are on the roster of classes to be held January through March 2007.

Award-winning island children’s author George Shannon will explore the literary and storytelling skills required to bring your best writing to the picture book for children in a class titled “Writing the Picture Book Text,” to be held at the senior center. The class, limited to 15 participants, will be held on five Wednesdays.

Topics such as “Writing as a Child’s Equal,” “Sound and Rhythm as Content,” “When Animals Talk,” and “Story Not Message,” will be addressed through lectures, discussions, writing exercises, readings and in-class critiques.

While this course will focus primarily on the verbal elements of the picture book, visual elements will naturally be part of some discussions.

Beginning on Jan. 27 and continuing through March 10 is “The Play’s the Thing,” offered by playwright Elizabeth Heffron.

In this dynamic craft course, students are encouraged to write an original one-act play. The class will be held at the Bainbridge Library, and is limited to 12 students.

All finished plays from this class will be eligible for a Bainbridge Performing Arts competition in which two plays will be selected for BPA’s “Stage Off” readings under the direction of Anita Montgomery in April.

For the more experienced writer, master teacher and novelist Carole Glickfeld returns with an intensive, hands-on class for advanced writers who have a draft of a novel in progress or have had previous instruction in novel writing. Called “Taking Your Novel to the Next Level: Launching Your Opening Chapters,” to be held on six Saturdays, from Jan. 27 to March 10. The class is limited to 20 participants.

Registration forms for 2007 Winter writing classes are online at www.fieldsend.org and at the Bainbridge Library.

Tuition assistance is available.

For information, email registrar@fieldsend.org or see www.fieldsend.org.